Nancy Wake by Russell Braddon is an excellent biography of a strong, intelligent, fearless woman that helped the Resistance in France during WWII. Nancy had everything to lose, had already lost so much personally, and yet her will for right and just was something that we should all remember as this courage, selflessness l, and strength knows no limit to time and place.

I already knew a great deal about Nancy, but this book helped create a better image of her life overall to what facts I had already researched from past nonfiction pieces. It was excellent to read about such an amazing woman.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes and all comments and opinions are my own.
Nancy Wake, an Australian beauty, is caught up in a war she didn't ask for, nor wanted. Her wealth, style and attractiveness allows her to foray into the depths of the French spy game. With training, she becomes a legend in her own time. This tale of daring and resistance is a testimony to the underground at the time period. With extraordinary aplomb, resources and gumption, Nancy Wake earned a reputation for her boots on the ground self-assured manner of service. This book is a good addition to the spy-game nonfiction genre and well worth the read. It has humor and amazing attention to details of the war that keep the book moving and not wallowing in loss upon loss as war time books tend to do. I highly recommend this book to lovers of the genre. Well written and researched, adventurous and poignant, humorous and filled with daring adventure; add this to your to-be-read list for next year.

Nancy Wake's story is one of the most incredible of WW2. Born in New Zealand in 1912 and brought up in Australia, she ran away from home at the age of 16 to work as a nurse. Still in her teens she left to travel to New York and then on to London where she trained as a journalist. Working in Paris she met and married the wealthy French Industrialist Henri Fiocca in 1937 and settled into life in Marseilles as a wealthy socialite, improving her French and picking up the local dialect in the markets, including some extremely coarse language. Her journey from there to become one of the most successful members of the French Resistance is the subject of this biography written by Russell Bradden's after he recorded hundreds of hours of interviews with her and the people she worked with in Britain and France.

First published in 1958, this new release has been editorially revised but is still fresh and written with an enthusiasm and delight in telling Nancy's story. After the early days of the German occupation of France when Nancy earned the nickname 'White Mouse' due to fearless carrying of messages by train all over the south the France, it follows her escape through Spain to London and her enrolment and training with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and then her deployment to France to liase with Britain over parachute drops of personnel and arms in readiness for D-Day.

The book is not dense with military details of the war or occupation but instead focuses mainly on the Auvergne Maquis and its 7,500 members who relied on Nancy for arms and finance as well as for her organizational skills in helping to make them into a well coordinated and resourced force. She faced many dangers bravely and fiercely and her antics became legendary amongst the Maquis. After a narrow escape from the Germans, where her radio operator had to hide his radio and destroy his codes, she famously cycled 500 km in 72h over rough terrain to find another radio operator who could contact London to ask for a replacement radio and codes to be sent. It's a remarkable account of a woman who gave so much to help her beloved France, and lost so much including all her wealth and her husband Henri who was tortured by the Gestapo for refusing to reveal where she was. If this was fiction you would never believe that one woman could have so much courage and accomplish so much. Highly recommended if you want to learn more about this incredible woman and the vital role the Maquis played in resisting the German occupation of France.

I LOVED, LOVED this book. What a great story about a courageous, wonderful, fearless woman during World War II. The writing was simple, easy to understand and a joy to read. This book should be required reading right next to the Diary of Anne Frank.
I am happy and wiser person for reading this magnificent work!

Nancy Wake
By Russell Branddon

This was an interesting book about an even more interesting woman. I don’t think Nancy’s life was given justice in the writing style chosen by the author to share it. Nancy Wake was a remarkable woman who chose to face her fears head-on. Rather than making do with what she had, she shared not only her wealth but herself in her war efforts. This book, however, was written “matter of fact” leaving it challenging to feel the trepidation or danger in Nancy’s experiences. She was surely brave but there was little emotion in this retelling. No matter her life was fascinating and interesting to read about.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

A story originally brought to publication in 1956 is in this edition, re-introduced to a new generation in what is a detailed and painstakingly researched book.
Nancy Wake’s early life and war exploits are too important to leave out of print. I am grateful for this opportunity to read of her incredible life and have a book of first hand accounts of the war in France from occupation to liberation. (1939-1945).
I have read fictional accounts of female agents and London’s efforts to make the French Resistance a fighting band, focused and D-Day ready. This book rings with the hollow truth of real events in the struggle to keep escape lines open and then equip and train the marauding Maquis.
The book does not delight in the struggle and killing that war brought; it does not dwell on the heroics or pass over the brutality of the conflict. It is about people; it is about a nation never cowered by occupation or fear of reprisals. Ordinary folk who did what they could to face a ruthless foe and young guns who fought in ways that always maintained that struggle.
Nancy Wake initially did what she could as a French Housewife. Later, having escaped to Spain, trained in the U.K. is sent as an agent to lead and galvanise the disparate groups and bands of Maquis in Central France.
I simply found her story compelling reading. I am amazed by her understated courage and determination to do whatever she could to help and support others. Her drive and loyalty won her the respect of those who fought alongside her. Her principals and fearless actions ensured all loved her and why the Germans wanted her killed.
The lasting impression however is that a woman can achieve great things; as demonstrated here in time of war. When initially they were recruited into reserve positions and designated say as nurses - FANYs.
But Nancy’s war shows a more active role, leading men and slugging it out in desperate situations. Her femininity was always in her mind but never placed before others needs and rights. She sometimes adapted and it is never more demonstrated as in her SOE training. Her logic thankfully won out in the field later where male bravado would have cost lives.
Her straight-talking and experiences gained during the initial occupation gave her skills others could never acquire. She put all those learned attributes and gleaned knowledge into all her spy craft.
Her greatest observations were of the French people themselves during these war years. She had a respect for their courage and defiance. This book is as much a tribute to their courage and struggle as it is to the remarkable achievements of this woman Nancy Wake.

I wrote about this book on my book Instagram, otherwise known as bookstagram (follow me here) and I am so happy to share the story of Nancy Wake with you. Here’s how I found out about Nancy: I listened to a My Favorite Murder podcast where they talked about brave women during World War II and it was a really great introduction to some fearless women. The next day, I looked for another podcast to listen to and stumbled upon Criminal Broads where the episode (episode #30) about five Nazi killing women and one of them was Nancy Wake. Fast forward to the next day when I discovered this book is about to be published!

What timing! I knew I had to get my hands on it so I could learn more.

Here’s what you need to know:

‘Of all the variously talented women SOE sent to France, Nancy Wake was perhaps the most formidable’ —Sebastian Faulks

“This is the incredible true story of the greatest spy you’ve never heard of—as told to the author by the woman herself.

At the outbreak of World War Two, Nancy Wake’s glamorous life in the South of France seemed far removed from the fighting. But when her husband was called up for military service, Nancy felt she had just as much of a duty to fight for freedom. By 1943, her fearless undercover work even in the face of personal tragedy had earned her a place on the Gestapo’s ‘most wanted’ list.

Mixing armed combat with a taste for high living, Nancy frustrated the Nazis at every turn—whether she was smuggling food and messages as part of the underground Resistance or being parachuted into the heart of the war to lead a 7,000-strong band of Resistance fighters.

The extraordinary courage of this unequalled woman changed the course of the war, and Russell Braddon’s vividly realized biography brings her incredible story to life.”

The synopsis doesn’t go into much detail but from what I have read, Nancy was actually feared by the Germans and on their Most Wanted list. If you love history, badass women, World War II, then you must get this book!

Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited, go here to pre-order, comes out on Nov. 1

What a fantastic lady Nancy Wake is with a remarkable life. I enjoy reading about WW2. She was an incredibile brave woman who took enormous risks to help free France from Nazi

Well worth a read